Clematis plant named ‘UNAI 011’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Clematis  cultivar named ‘UNAI 011’ is disclosed, characterized by good resistance to normal diseases and pests of  Clematis , continuous flowering from May through September, with flower buds continuously produced from the leaf axils. Plants are exceptionally floriferous and produce tepals colored magenta. The new cultivar is a  Clematis , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Clematis jackmanii.

Variety denomination: ‘UNAI 011’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor that began in 1978. In 1982 the inventor, Aili Kivistik a citizen of Estonia, organized a group of unnamed, unpatented Clematis jackmanii varieties for an open pollination breeding project. Seeds originating from this crossing were planted out, and the new variety was selected in 1985. Specific parents of the new variety are unknown, as the seed was bulk collected, without noting the variety collected from. All work was conducted at a non-commercial nursery in Roogoja, Estonia.

In 1991 the inventor first propagated ‘UNAI 011’ by vegetative cuttings at the same non-commercial nursery in Roogoja, Estonia. Subsequent generations have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘UNAI 011’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘UNAI 011’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘UNAI 011’ as a new and distinct Clematis cultivar:

-   -   1. Prolific flowering     -   2. Continuous flowering from May through September.     -   3. Flower buds produced continuously from the leaf axils.     -   4. Magenta tepal coloration.     -   5. Compact plant habit.     -   6. Durability of foliage to mechanical and pest damage.

COMPARISON TO KNOWN VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘UNAI 011’ are similar to known forms of Clematis jackmanii in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘UNAI 011’ produce flowers with a larger diameter than common forms of Clematis jackmanii known to the inventor. Additionally, plants of ‘UNAI 011’ flower continuously from May through September, whereas many known forms of Clematis jackmanii flower reliably 2 months only.

The new cultivar ‘UNAI 011’ can also be compared to the known variety Clematis ‘Ernest Markham’ unpatented. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar produce larger diameter flowers. Additionally the new cultivar begins blooming one month earlier, and flowers one month later than ‘Ernest Markham’ and produces a plant which is significantly shorter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a close up of typical foliage and the reverse side of flowers of ‘UNAI 011’.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of a typical flower of ‘UNAI 011’ grown outdoors in Estonia. The plant is less than one year old. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘UNAI 011’ plants grown outdoors in Roogoja, Estonia. Plants are approximately 1 year old, in a 5 liter nursery container. The growing conditions are outdoors and unshaded. Temperatures ranged from approximately −2° C. to 20° C. at night to 5° C. to 35° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis jackmanii ‘UNAI 011’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: Initiation: Approximately 40 days in the Summer at     approximately 25° C. Rooted cuttings production: Approximately 40     days in the Summer at approximately 25° C. -   Root Description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Climbing vine. -   Height: Approximately 200 cm, measured from the soil line of the pot     after approximately 1 year. -   Plant spread: Approximately 100 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. During active growing season in Spring,     approximately 80 cm per month. -   Branching characteristics: Very well branched, one main branch with     at least 5 to 6 lateral branches. -   Length of main stem: Approximately 200 cm. -   Diameter of main stem: Approximately 0.2 to 0.5 cm. -   Main stem color: Near RHS Brown 200B. -   Main stem texture: Glabrous. -   Internode length: Varies from 8 to 15 cm. -   Strength: Strong, flexible, semi-woody. -   Quantity of lateral branches: Average 5 to 10.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Ternate leaves arranged opposite. Some leaves simple             opposite.         -   Leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 60 leaflets.         -   Average length.—Approximately 5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Narrow heart shaped.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Attachment.—Petioled.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Resistance to stress and breakage.—Very resistant to             environmental and mechanical stress.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 136C. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 136A Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 136A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 6 cm. Color: Near RHS             Green 136A. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Texture:             Glabrous. Angle to stem: 90° to stem. -   Tendrils: Not present.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Continuously from approximately May through             September. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Single, rotate, axillary; flowers     facing outward. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 5 days, after fully opened.     Self-cleaning. -   Quantity of flowers: Very free, continuous flowering. Mature plants     have at least 40 open flowers at one time flowers during the     flowering season. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 15 to 20 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 1 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Tepal arrangement.—Single whorl. Overlapping.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 6 per flower.         -   Size.—Length: Approximately 8 cm. Width: Approximately 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Aspect.—Moderately concave. Margins moderately undulating.         -   Texture.—Smooth, velvety. -   Color:     -   -   Tepals.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet             83B. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet 83A.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 71A. Lower             surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet 80B.         -   Ageing.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet 82C. Lower             surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet 80B. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Mainly Near RHS Orange-White 159D.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 10 buds per lateral branch. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Angle.—Average 45°.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 60 per flower.         -   Anther length.—0.4 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 186D.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Pollen.—Pollen not observed.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Filament aspect.—Straight to slightly outwardly curved.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Violet 85B. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—Approximately 30 per flower.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Style color.—Near RHS White 155C.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near RHS Yellow 4D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds: Per flower, typically 30 round seeds, approximately 0.15     diameter. Colored near RHS Green 137B. -   Disease/pest resistance: Very good resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Clematis have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Observed to tolerate temperatures from     approximately −5° C. to at least 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant named ‘UNAI 011’ as herein illustrated and described. 